Recognizing and honoring Kathy Manderino on her retirement as a Pennsylvania State Representative and her 18-years of dedication and commitment to the 194th Legislative District.

WHEREAS, For 18 years Kathy Manderino has been an outstanding member of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, serving with distinction as the chair of the House Committee on Ethics, the Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Welfare and the Judiciary Subcommittee on Family Law. She has also been a member of the Health and Human Services, Insurance, Intergovernmental Affairs, and Judiciary committees; and

WHEREAS, As a legislator, Manderino has focused on serving as a voice for those who are not always heard by lawmakers - children in need, the poor, people who are mentally or physically challenged, and working families that need health care and other services to raise a healthy family; and

WHEREAS, Among her notable legislative accomplishments are legislation creating the Access to the Justice Fund, which helps to pay civil legal fees for people who could not otherwise afford them, and changing Pennsylvania law to allow crime victims to make victim-impact statements at sentencing hearings; and

WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed the Manderino Child Custody legislation to improve Pennsylvania's system for deciding child custody; and

WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed the Manderino bill to reform prison parole system, a package of legislation designed to relieve prison overcrowding, improve public safety, reduce repeat offenses and save taxpayers money; and

WHEREAS, During her nine terms in the General Assembly, she has been a strong advocate for women pushing for an enhanced role for them in all areas - the home, business, government and the community and worked to support and expand programs for professional women, other working women and low-income women and their children; and

WHEREAS, Kathy Manderino's public service has gone far beyond her legislative role as a member of the board of directors of Northwest Victim Services and The Food Trust.

She is also active in the Pennsylvania Bar Association, where she serves as chair of the House of Delegates, and is a member of the Board of Governors, the Commission on Women in the Profession, and serves on numerous task forces and committees

; and

WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Commission for Women honored Representative Manderino for her work on behalf of women in Pennsylvania - both in the legislature and in the community; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby recognizes and honors Kathy Manderino on her retirement as a Pennsylvania State Representative and her 18-years of dedication and commitment to the 194th District.

FUTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Kathy Manderino as evidence of the sincere admiration and best wishes of this legislative body.

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